Vladimir the Great

Vladimir the Great was Grand Prince of Kyiv from 980 to 1015. His adoption of Byzantine Christianity reshaped Kievan Rus’ and made him a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Christianization of Kievan Rus’: The adoption of Christianity by the polity of Kievan Rus’, traditionally dated to 988. Vladimir’s baptism and sponsorship of mass conversion made this transformation a defining legacy of his reign.
Sviatoslav I: A tenth-century ruler of Kievan Rus’ and father of Vladimir the Great. His death left a succession struggle that brought Vladimir to power.
Basil II: Byzantine emperor from 976 to 1025, known for consolidating imperial power and defeating Bulgaria. Vladimir supported Basil II during a rebellion, helping secure the alliance behind his marriage to Anna.
Primary Chronicle: A medieval East Slavic chronicle describing the origins and early history of Kievan Rus’. Its account of the choice of faith is the best-known narrative of Vladimir’s conversion.
Eastern Orthodox Church: A communion of Christian churches that developed from the eastern traditions of the early church. Vladimir’s choice aligned Rus’ religious life with the Byzantine church tradition.
Yaropolk I: A son of Sviatoslav I who ruled Kyiv before being defeated by Vladimir. Vladimir’s campaign against his half-brother secured the Kyiv throne.
Olga of Kyiv: A tenth-century ruler of Kyiv and an early Christian among the Rus’ elite. Her earlier conversion provides a dynastic precedent for Vladimir’s adoption of Christianity.
Sermon on Law and Grace: An eleventh-century work by Ilarion of Kyiv contrasting Christian grace with the earlier law. It celebrates Vladimir as the ruler who brought Rus’ into Christian history.
Byzantine Empire: The medieval continuation of the Roman Empire centered on Constantinople. Vladimir’s conversion strengthened diplomatic and religious ties with Byzantium.
Rogneda of Polotsk: A Polotsk princess who became one of Vladimir’s wives and the mother of several of his children. Her marriage belongs to the dynastic alliances and conflicts preceding Vladimir’s Christian rule.

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